The IDW begins at 6 PM on June 8th and lodging is available through 10 AM on June 12th. Location: The IDW/Update will be based out on Georgetown Island, Maine. This location provides candidates with access to a variety of OW and AOW venues within a 1 hour commute. Overview: The purpose of the Level 5 AOW IDW, L5/L4 Update is to expose candidates to a variety of teaching/coaching methods and behaviors intended to enhance an individual candidate’s current practice. At the core, the Level 5 IDW is designed to develop an individual’s knowledge, understanding and ability as it pertains to teaching, instructing and coaching in the OW/AOW environment. This course will encourage instructors to put modern educational and coaching theory into practice with the goal of creating highly differentiated and contextualized sessions. Upon completion of the course candidates will leave with a detailed, written action plan to guide them as they prepare for assessment.

Corresponding ICE: For those interested in assessing, we plan to host an authentic, performance based ICE November 20-22 2015; this provides candidates a full season to work on their action plan and prepare for assessment. The assessment will begin at 6PM on the 20th and candidates will have the opportunity to teach, instruct and coach authentic students in AOW environments on the 21st and 22nd.

Why do we separate training and assessment? While the ICW (Instructor Certification Workshop) has become an increasingly popular method of certifying instructors and while it is a valid mode of acquiring an ACA Instructor Certification, it poses numerous challenges. In regard to Level 5, historically the course has been offered as an ICE, as all candidates are required to be Level 4 Instructors. In both cases, it is unrealistic to expose candidates to potentially new concepts and content early in a course and expect unconscious competence or mastery in days or hours without adequate time for practice and application. It is equally unrealistic for assessors to perform a formal, objective examination in the context of a training course, when candidates are expected to be experimenting with new concepts, content and coaching behaviors. Therefore, under the ICW or traditional Level 5 ICE model, candidates are often assessed based on personal paddling in the L5 venue, and their ability to teach pre-assigned content in a structured method to peers rather than real students.

Our goal is to develop instructors who are both excellent paddlers and highly skilled and creative teachers, instructors and coaches, who upon assessment have the opportunity to work with real students in the Level 5 venue and address their individual needs.

ACA L5 AOW IDW Pre-Requisites:

To be eligible for Level 5: Advanced Open Water Coastal Kayaking Instructor Certification, an individual must be a currently certified Level 4: Open Water Coastal Kayaking Instructor in good standing and have reported a minimum of four Level 4 course in the past four years.

Teach and Report to the National Office at least two courses that meet the L4 OW standard within the four year certification period.

Maintain ACA Membership and SEIC Registration annually.

Possess current First Aid and age appropriate CPR credentials. It is recommended that Instructors participating in the course either as an IDW or Instructor Update demonstrate experience teaching, coaching and paddling in diverse and complex coastal environments and demonstrate the ability to teach/coach a variety of ability levels. While evidence of this is not required a “logbook” is appreciated.

ACA Mission

Founded in 1880, The American Canoe Association (ACA) is a national nonprofit organization serving the broader paddling public by providing education related
to all aspects of paddling; stewardship support to help protect paddling environments; and sanctioning of programs and events to promote paddlesport
competition, exploration and recreation.